Sarawak turns to storytelling for events legacy

Business Events Sarawak and ICCA collaborates on the world’s first international academic journal dedicated to business events.

Singapore Fintech Festival drew participants from more than 110 countries.
Singapore Fintech Festival drew participants from more than 110 countries. Photo Credit: SG Fintech Festival

Business Events Sarawak has published the first issue and volume of the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies (IJBEL), which it describes as the world’s first international academic journal specific to business events and the legacies that such events leave behind.

IJBEL is a joint effort between BESarawak and the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) to raise collaborations within the international industry, with other partners including Curtin University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA and Sarawak Research Society. The journal will feature case studies, research and viewpoints on topics such as event planning and delivery, and strategies adopted by related sectors such as hospitality, tourism and economics. IJBEL is also on track to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education and Partnership for the Goals.

Amelia Roziman, BESarawak’s CEO said: "Sarawak’s business events industry is proactive in searching for new ways to deliver business events successfully and lead the way in terms of industry development. We are looking outwards to help the global industry reset and recover through empirical research and real industry experiences. This involves forging collaborations at micro and macro levels with local, national and international players.”

Senthil Gopinath, ICCA’s CEO, said: “ICCA believes our collaboration with IJBEL is substantial especially in this new business events environment, giving additional and optional platforms in knowledge sharing. Together we can achieve greater results and elevate the development of the business events Industry to the next level regionally, nationally, and globally.”

This first issue of IJBEL contains six academic papers, four industry papers and one special note on topics such as the effectiveness of hybrid events; managing sustainable events in an urban destination; hosting business events in times of crisis; optimising e-tourism and e- marketplaces for business events and legacy approaches.